In this episode, Mark Thompson, owner of Level Up Business Consulting and a member of the host's Faith-Driven Entrepreneur group, explains how epic stories can change the way we lead and sell. Every epic story has five characters: victims, villains, heroes, guides and extras. Mark argues that businesses should play the guide, not the hero, and help their customers become the hero of their own story.

He shares a personal story about his daughter's wedding, and how he nearly "hijacked" her hero's journey. He also explains why successful businesses hit a growth ceiling and how a fractional C-suite leader can help. He ends with how to reach him. His first consultations are free.

Key takeaways

• Level Up provides part-time (fractional) C-suite leaders in operations, sales, marketing, finance and procurement.
• Successful businesses often stall because the founder is spinning every plate and has reached their capacity.
• Epic stories have five characters: victim, villain, hero, guide and extra.
• In the Bible, and in Narnia, the guide is all-powerful but restrains that power so others can be the hero.
• Mark's wedding story shows the risk of making yourself the hero of someone else's story. You can end up as the villain.
• After that realization, Mark made thank-you calls to the people who had guided him.
• Most businesses cast themselves as the hero. Mark helps them shift to the guide role.
• Mark says stalled businesses often see 20, 40 or even 50 percent growth after this shift.
• The host and Mark discuss living a fully integrated life, with no separate church life and business life.

How to connect: Mark offers free initial consultations, calls and sit-downs. I didn't find a website or contact details in the transcript. Add them here before you publish.

Mentioned: Faith-Driven Entrepreneur group at Workspace, The Chronicles of Narnia, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and the host's first podcast with Maya on identity.